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Serge Ibaka named to NBA All-Defensive first team

Serge Ibaka’s offensive struggles may be making news in the NBA Playoffs. But his defensive dominance have made him an NBA All-Defensive first-teamer again, the league announced Monday.

Ibaka, who made first team last year, led the NBA with 3.03 blocks per game this season. By leading the league in total blocked shots (242) for a third consecutive season, Ibaka joins Dikembe Mutombo (1994-98) as the only other player to accomplish such a feat in NBA history.

The Thunder recorded a league-best 7.61 blocks per game, the second straight season it led the league.

With Ibaka in the lineup for 80 games, the Thunder held its opponents to the second lowest field goal percentage (.425) in the NBA during the 2012-13 season.

Ibaka is joined in the first team by Miami’s LeBron James, New York’s Tyson Chandler, Chicago’s Joakim Noah, Memphis’ Tony Allen and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Memphis center Marc Gasol last week was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

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Mike Sherman is sports editor of The Oklahoman, where he has a combined 18 years of service during two stints as a writer and an editor.
He covered high school sports for The Oklahoman from 1984-93. He also worked as a news writer for the...